Help from the Shadows (Open Novella Contest)

3 (Choiseung)

We were silent and shocked as Ayame finished her story, unable to believe it. 

Natsume, Touma, Akinori and Keisuke have been taken? By who? Why? Those questions swirled around my mind. My analytical mind tried to work out the solution, but with the gapping holes in Ayame's story, I was unable to do so, making me mentally groan out in frustration.

"But why were they taken?" Dad's question snapped me out of her trance.

"I don't know," Ayame replied, shaking her head. "I can't figure it out."

"Same here," I agreed. "I can't find the truth if I don't have enough information." 

"Well, then, why don't we go to Ayame's dimension to get more information?" Akino's sudden suggestion caught the 3 of us off guard, while Ayame had grown hopeful, "You'll help me find my friends?" 

"Of course. After all, we can't reject a plead for help, right guys?" Rau nodded, looking at Dad and I. 

I rolled my eyes hearing this. As expected from Rau and Akino, always rushing into danger to help others. Well then, if that's the case... "Of course. Plus, I have to go to make sure that you two don't get in trouble," Dad nodded in agreement.

"Hey!" Akino pouted. "I feel insulted!" I just smiled while patting his head, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Akino." 

Ayame looked ecstatic now, "Thank you so much! I never expected some complete strangers to help me out like this!" 

"It's okay, Ayame," Rau grinned at her. "Helping others is something that we all have to do, you know." 

"How are we going to go to the Shadowside realm though?" I frowned. "I mean, we don't have any way to get there." 

Ayame grinned, "No worries. Akinori-kun's grandma taught me how to get back to our dimension should I ever get lost while using transportation spells, so I just have to do it and we can get there." 

"If that's the case, we should probably clear up everything before we go," I suggested. Ayame had to load that for a few minutes before she smiled again and nodded. 

"We'll set off tomorrow morning at 5 a.m., if that's okay with everyone," Dad decided. We agreed, so Akino, Rau and I soon left to go back to our apartments. 

In my apartment, I grabbed my backpack and packed all of the necessary things needed for our mission while typing out my absence letter and sending it to my leader. Once I was sure that I had everything ready, I got ready for bed before I lied on my bed, staring at the ceiling. 

"I'll be going to Sakura New Town tomorrow," I mumbled to myself. "Dad, Rau, Akino and I will have to work with Ayame to save her friends from a mysterious new enemy."

"I wonder who it is," I mused to myself. "Who would want to kidnap 3 teens and one preteen, but leave another one behind?"

"Ah, asking these questions won't help me," I realised. "Well, I guess it's time to sleep I suppose." 

With that, I closed my eyes and fell asleep, allowing my mind to bring me to dreamland.

/\/\ Help from the Shadows /\/\

The next day, I woke up at 3 a.m. and immediately jumped off the bed, showering in 10 minutes flat before I put on my new outfit which I decided would fit the adventure we were about to begin. 

Now, I wore a white shirt, a black jacket covering it, black pants, and my usual combination of black socks and white shoes. This fit in well with my messy black hair, dark chocolate eyes, and pale skin, which satisfied me.

Anyway, once I double-checked everything to make sure nothing was left behind, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and went out of my apartment.

Since I was on the edge of our group's line, with Rau and Akino in the middle, I decided to go to Akino's place first, as it is right beside mine.

I knocked on the door.

"Coming!" I heard Akino call out before the door swung open, revealing Akino with a sports bag, a red t-shirt, blue shorts, a magenta parka covering his shirt, and his usual pair of footwear.

"You ready, Akino?" I asked my best friend.

"Yup," he nodded cheerfully. I could only smile. Akino is really excited about this...

"Come on then. We have to get Rau before going to Dad's clinic," I told him as I turned around and walked towards Rau's place, with Akino trailing behind me, humming a bit.

Arriving at Rau's apartment, I knocked on the door once more, but a bit harder than at Akino's place, since Rau's a really deep sleeper who could sleep through a loud thunderstorm (unfortunately, that has been proven).

This time, there was silence for a while before the door opened.

Rau was wearing a sky blue hoodie to match his navy blue jeans and tanned skin. His black eyes looked at us with embarrassment as Rau tried to neaten his brown hair, but only succeeded in making it even more unruly. We just snickered at the scene in front of us.

"Sorry for the wait," Rau apologised as he leaned down to put on his grey shoes, making sure that his feet were snug with his new black socks before he locked up his place and turned to us, "Let's go then."

It didn't take long for us to arrive at Dad's home/clinic, and Ayame greeted us at the door, "Hi, everyone!"

"Hey, Ayame," I greeted with a small smile, which she replied with a smile of her own. I briefly scanned her.

She was now wearing an oversized yellow t-shirt, a peach jacket covering her shirt, a long pink skirt, and her usual pair of shoes. 

"Not a bad combination, Ayame," Rau complimented her. 

"Thanks, Mister Rau. It was from Mister Chenhua's closet," she replied, smiling at Rau. 

"Are you feeling better now?" Akino questioned. 

"Yup!" she nodded. 

"Good. Ready to go home now?" I inquired. 

She grinned at me, "Of course, Mister Choiseung! I won't let that hooded figure keep my friends any longer!" 

"That's the spirit, Ayame!" Dad appeared from his living space, which is behind his clinic, holding an aquamarine sports bag, as we all walked in and closed the door behind us, making sure that no one could see what we were doing. Ayame then performed a spell which caused a light grey vortex to appear in front of us. We then turned to face my dad. 

I whistled a bit seeing his blue hoodie, yellow t-shirt underneath, long green pants, and normal combination of purple running shoes plus a pair of blood red socks, which really emphasised his black eyes, Oriental look, short brown hair, and pale skin, "Wow, Dad, you look great." 

He shrugged nonchalantly while walking to stand beside us, "I try my best. Anyway, ready to do this, Ayame, everyone?" 

Ayame nodded, "Yes, Mister Chenhua!" We all followed Ayame's example, agreeing with her. 

Dad smirked, "Well then, let's do this!" 

"Oh!" Akino, Rau, Ayame and I all cheered in agreement before we ran into the vortex, ready to find and save Ayame's friends.